A Kamakura Bell Tower with a Skirt
The Chokoji Temple Bell Tower (朝光寺鐘楼) is a bell tower with a flared skirt of the late Kamakura period in Hata, Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on September 17, 1954 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a bell tower one bay square with a flared skirt and a hipped roof of copper sheet in the form of wooden shingles; designation number 01307.
A Skirted Bell Tower
The bell tower of Chokoji is a late Kamakura tower one bay square with a flared skirt, its hipped roof covered in copper sheet shaped like thick wooden shingles (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The National Treasure main hall stands in the same precinct.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency record has no commentary; the structure and date set out what was designated. It is a late Kamakura bell tower with a flared skirt (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
What to Look For
Look for the flared skirt around the base and the hipped roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Chokoji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to a Kato City brochure, the grounds are open, and the main hall can be entered as far as the outer sanctuary from 8:00 to 16:00. It is about 15 minutes by car from Hyogo-Tojo IC on the Chugoku Expressway, with parking for about 20 cars; enquiries go to the temple office, tel. 0795-44-0735. The main hall and bell tower are introduced together on the Chokoji Temple page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the late Kamakura period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is its form?
- One bay square, with a flared skirt.
- What is the roof like?
- Hipped, in copper sheet shaped like wooden shingles.
- When was it designated?
- On September 17, 1954.
- When was the Chokoji Temple Bell Tower designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On September 17, 1954 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Chokoji Temple Bell Tower (朝光寺鐘楼) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hata, Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1954/09/17 (Showa 29) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | One bay square, with skirt, hipped, copper sheet in shingle form |
| Owner | Chokoji Temple |
| Public Access | Main hall interior 8:00–16:00; grounds open (Kato City) |
References
- Chokoji Temple Bell Tower (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/2401
- Kato City tourist brochure (Kato City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.kato.lg.jp/material/files/group/50/R7rurubu_kato4-5.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.24
